Simple, soft, fluffy pancakes, an essential that everyone should know. You’ve been good all week. Go on. You deserve freshly made homemade pancakes for breakfast tomorrow!
Pancakes recipe
Homemade pancakes shouldn’t be complicated. It doesn’t matter if they come out wonky or with a splotchy surface instead of being a beautiful, even golden brown – after all, they’ll get smothered in toppings.
But they should be soft and fluffy. And in my world, not too sweet. Because….you know. Toppings. Load up on toppings!
Any day starting with homemade pancakes is a GREAT day!
What goes in homemade pancakes
This is what you need:
flour
baking powder
sugar
egg
milk
vanilla extract – optional
No buttermilk, no baking soda / bi carb, no yoghurt. You only need baking soda for an extra fluff boost when you have add ins in pancakes, like Blueberry Pancakes, because it weighs the batter down.
And of course TOPPINGS! Why limit yourself to just butter and maple syrup? See below for all sorts of ideas!
Pancakes Toppings – what to put on pancakes
Butter and maple syrup – the classic!
Maple syrup alternatives – honey, golden syrup and other sweet syrups suitable for eating raw
Lemon and sugar – one of my favourites! Light sprinkle of sugar and a squeeze of lemon
Strawberries and cream! Pictured below – layer it up like a cake, sandwiching the pancakes with whipped cream and sliced strawberries, then finish with a dusting of icing sugar / powdered sugar;
Sinfully rich sauces – like caramel sauce, chocolate sauce, butterscotch sauce, peanut sauce, anything!
Lemon curd, fruit compotes and sauces – like blueberry sauce (try the one in this Blueberry Cheesecake), Strawberry Sauce (use the one in this Strawberry Cheesecake) or try the warm apple topping in this Apple French Toast
BACON and maple syrup – YES!
Sprinkle of nuts
Fresh fruit – chop it, pile over pancakes with cream!
Ice cream – add a scoop onto a stack and drizzle with maple syrup, chocolate sauce, caramel sauce. Don’t forget the whipped cream!
Dusting of cinnamon and sugar
Pro tip: Keep a STANDBY PANCAKE MIX!
Homemade pancakes aren’t complicated to make, but sometimes it’s that much more appealing if there’s a ready made mix in the cupboard, just like the ones you can buy at the store!
Just measure out the dry ingredients and pop them in a ziplock bag, jar or airtight container, then when you want to make fresh pancakes, just add the wet ingredients!
To make a handy shake ‘n pour bottle like pictured above, you’ll need a 1.5L/1.5Qt+ bottle to leave enough headroom for the required liquids + shaking. I mix the wet ingredients in a jug then pour it in then shake away!
Now, go forth and elevate your morning by making a big stack of these soft, fluffy, golden pancakes! TELL ME what you top YOURS with! – Nagi xx
Watch How To Make It
Simple Fluffy Pancakes recipe video!
Hungry for more? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.
Simple, Fluffy Pancakes
Ingredients
- 2 cups / 300g plain / all purpose flour (Note 1)
- 4 tsp baking powder (Note 1)
- 1/4 cup / 55g white sugar (caster / super fine is best but not essential)
- Pinch of salt
- 1 egg
- 1 3/4 cups / 435 ml cups milk (any type, any fat %)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract or essence
- 4 tsp butter , for cooking
Instructions
- Place flour, baking powder, sugar and salt in a bowl, whisk to combine.
- Add egg, milk and vanilla. Whisk until lump free – no longer than 30 seconds.
- Heat a non stick skillet – use medium heat if you have a strong stove, medium high if you have a weak one. Add a tiny bit of butter (about 1/2 tsp) and swirl to melt. Use paper towel to mostly wipe the butter off (this is the trick to avoid a dodgy 1st pancake).
- Pour 1/4 cup batter into the middle of the fry pan (I use a slightly heaped ice cream scoop with lever, standard is 1/4 cup).
- Swirl pan lightly to spread or use the ice cream scoop edge to spread into 11cm / 4.5″ circle (ruler is a must) (joking!).
- When bubbles rise to the surface (see video), flip and cook the other side until golden.
- Remove and keep warm in a low oven.
- Use more butter every 2 to 3 pancakes – depends how good your non stick coating is.
- Serve with toppings of choice!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
More pancake recipes
Giant Pancakes – to share!
Pikelets – mini pancakes!
Life of Dozer
I’m surprised there isn’t a massive drool hanging from his mouth.
Oh wait. I don’t want to gross you out, but after I wrote this post, I almost slipped on a puddle of drool when I was cleaning that area. Ewwwwww!
Hi Nagi,
My dad in palliative care and requested pancakes with a blueberry syrup last night. He had some at a cafe in kings cross while undergoing treatment. Made these, this morning, he was so delighted! Made the blueberry syrup from no bake cheesecake.
Thankyou for always providing recipes that actually work!
Oh Irene, I’m so sorry to hear about your dad. But it makes me so happy that he enjoyed the pancakes. Sending over virtual hugs – N x
Great recipe,the last one i tried were dense.
I’ll try the blueberry ones next.
My first time making American style pancakes….on my gosh SO GOOD came out perfect.
Easy, fluffy, and yet so irresistible pancakes. I will go back to this recipe regularly in the future.
Well done, Nagi.
My pancakes were a little heavy almost cakes. Upon checking my baking powder was out of date would that have made the difference.
That would definitely have caused it. Baking powder causes the rise when it’s activated. If it is out of date it can’t activate to give you fluffy pancakes.
Don’t trust the best before date either, it can become inactive some time before that. Easiest way to tell is to add a small amount to some water and watch for the fizz! Alternatively, you can make your own baking powder and know that it is always fresh! It’s as simple as two parts cream of tartar mixed with one part bi-carb soda 🙂
Made these for our lunch. Excellent,,! Didn’t get 13 pancakes though. I got 10.
Thought you couldnt screw this one up; Wrong, Ive done a excellent job of it. Taste like crap and thinking its the baking soda I added. Well, glad the chooks arnt as fussy.
LOL the recipe calls for baking powder not soda… hehe
Hey Andrew you are a horrible person. It’s really easy to just say something behind a phone isn’t it?Loser.
Oh no Andrew – sounds like you mis-measured somewhere along the line! You definitely use baking POWDER and not Soda?!
Hi Nagi! Love this recipe! I’m wondering, can I use this mix to make waffles?
To make waffles using a pancake recipe just add 2 Tb of oil. I was actually able to make these as whole wheat waffles using a flax egg and adding 2 Tb of coconut oil. Hope this helps!
Hi Anu, not this one sorry – it’s too light and fluffy, waffles are a different batter! N x
Could I add buttermilk instead of milk? I have some in the fridge that I need to use up.. loooove all your recipes! They never fail…
Love this recipe, thank you! I’m planning on making this for my soccer team but need double the amount of pancakes. Is it as simple as doubling all the ingredients?
Hi Tamara, if you click on the “servings” a slider bar will pop up and you can scale the recipe, all the ingredients will scale up for you 🙂 N x
This recipe can save marriages……Dramatic?? Mayyyybeeee but honestly, I won’t buy shakers again which I usually do because it’s the only way for me to get a lie in AND have pancakes for breakfast. Not anymore. Took Nagi’s tip and prepped some zip lock bags with the dry ingredients and a sticky label given instructions for adding wet ingredients. And voile!! My husband can make pancakes!! 🥰 Caught him sending ziplocks over the fence to a neighbour with a sick wife and kids screaming for pancakes. There was happy squeals shortly afterwards. I think it’s not only your recipes Nagi but tips like that that make this site so wonderful. Has certainly expanded and changed how I do things. Thank you!!
Hi Nagi,
Loving this pancake recipe, so easy so fast and so yummy! I’ve actually used a few of your recipes now – I’m not a great cook and I’ve found all the ones I’ve used so far to be easy to follow and have turned out great!
Thanks so much! *ardent follower now* 🙂
These are now a Sunday breakfast staple in our home, my kids love them and we love topping them with fresh cream, strawberries, blueberries and maple syrup. Yum
Just so you know whenever I want to try a new recipe, I come to your website first and if I can’t find it I look at others. I’ve never been disappointed with any of your recipes!! You truly are gifted!
I think I just found The One 💕
End of search for that perfect recipe! Yum! Thank you😍
Awesome Rhiza, I love hearing this!! N x
I don’t know how many pancake recipes out there (hundreds? thousands?) but I just come here to pick yours. Partner and I just had a good fluffy pancake breakfast. Thank you!
Holy moly!! These are the best pancakes, ever!
So light and fluffy and so simple to make.
I made half this recipe, i wasn’t sure how they would turn out as i didnt use exact measurements, but they were amazing! The best fluffy pancake recipe ever, thank you!
I’m so glad they word out for you Tan! N x
Omg best pancakes ever all of your food has been amazing thank you so much
I’m so glad you enjoyed them Scarlet! N x
After trying the pizza Recipe which was a huge success I tried this. OMG absolutely delicious so soft and fluffy.
It is official, you are a legend in our house!! All four of my kids polished these off this morning.